Albanese's campaign has gained momentum by capitalizing on public sentiment against Donald Trump, linking Opposition Leader Peter Dutton to Trump's controversial policies and branding him as 'DOGE-y Dutton'.

Labor has consistently drawn parallels between Dutton and Trump, particularly after Dutton reversed a promise to cut public service jobs, which Labor criticized as a 'Trumpian' move.

Concerns over Trump's policies, including tariffs and government agency criticisms, have resonated with Australian voters, mirroring reactions seen in Canada.

Dutton's popularity has declined due to his embrace of Trump-like policies, including a controversial ban on work-from-home arrangements and proposals to cut 41,000 public sector jobs.

Perception of Trump as a threat to Australia has grown, with 68% of voters now believing his presidency is detrimental, up from 40% shortly after his election, impacting Dutton's support.

Within the Coalition, there is a faction drawn to the Trump brand, which complicates Dutton's campaign and creates potential backlash against his messaging.

Current polling indicates that Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's Labor Party is leading Dutton's Coalition by a significant margin of 53.5% to 46.5% in two-party terms, a notable shift from a 50-50 deadlock just weeks ago.

Facing backlash, Dutton abandoned the policy requiring government employees to return to the office full-time, further damaging his standing with voters.

The second leaders' debate between Albanese and Dutton is scheduled for April 16, 2025, following Albanese's declared victory in the first debate on April 8.

Dutton's proposal to cut the federal public service has faced criticism for lacking clear execution plans, leading to confusion about how these cuts would be implemented.

Frequent policy reversals have undermined Dutton's credibility, leading to public doubts about his authenticity and competence as a leader.

Despite concerns over tariffs and U.S. reliability, both the Australian and U.S. governments remain committed to the AUKUS security pact, which is a significant topic in the campaign.